Minnesota · ranked from DNR surveys
Best walleye lakes in Rice County
17 surveyed walleye lakes sit in Rice County; the 10 ranked here cleared this site's grade rubric, which reads DNR survey catch rates, size structure and trophy history the same way the live map does for every lake.
Wells Lake leads at grade A−, with 17.6 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2020 survey and a 27-inch fish the biggest measured. Fox Lake is next at B+, 11.6 walleye per net in gill nets in its 2023 survey, 33% of the walleye netted over 20 inches. Cannon Lake rounds out the top three at B+, a 27-inch fish the biggest measured.
| # | Lake | Grade | Acres | Survey catch rate | Over 20" | Biggest Surveyed | Avg wt | Surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wells Lake | A− | 678 | 17.6/net in gill nets | 8% | 27" | 1.1 lb | 2020 |
| 2 | Fox Lake | B+ | 312 | 11.6/net in gill nets | 33% | 24" | 2.5 lb | 2023 |
| 3 | Cannon Lake | B+ | 1,593 | 11/net in gill nets | 2% | 27" | 1.7 lb | 2025 |
| 4 | Mazaska Lake | B | 688 | 3.4/net in gill nets | 59% | 26" | 3 lb | 2025 |
| 5 | Cedar Lake | B | 902 | 1.7/net in gill nets | 100% | 28" | 4.6 lb | 2025 |
| 6 | Lower Sakatah Lake | C+ | 372 | 2.8/net in gill nets | 12% | 25" | 1.9 lb | 2020 |
| 7 | Shields Lake | C+ | 941 | 1.1/net in gill nets | 100% | 26" | 5.2 lb | 2023 |
| 8 | Cody Lake | C | 259 | 3.5/net in gill nets | 0% | 15" | 0.2 lb | 2021 |
| 9 | Roberds Lake | C | 632 | 1.4/net in gill nets | 5% | 25" | 1.4 lb | 2025 |
| 10 | Union Lake | C− | 397 | 1.6/net in gill nets | 0% | 13" | 0.6 lb | 2015 |
Also ranked in Rice County: Northern pike · Largemouth bass · Crappie · Bluegill · Yellow perch
All of Minnesota: Best walleye lakes in Minnesota
Grades are this site's rubric over Minnesota DNR survey data (catch per unit effort against DNR benchmarks, size structure, trophy history). See any lake's page for the underlying numbers. Survey years vary by lake; the table shows each lake's latest.